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celebrations, childhood memoirs, gratitude, just me, lists
celebrations, childhood memoirs, gratitude, just me, lists thankful week #4
November 27, 2008 at 9:08 AM 
this week i've thought a lot about which direction to take my weekly gratitude list and i keep on coming back to myself. so at the risk of sounding narcisstic, but more realizing that we each have so much to be thankful for:
i am grateful for my body.
my eyes. it doesn't matter how much weight i gain or lose, what color my hair is, or what time of year it is; i think my eyes are beautiful. i'm grateful for long, thick eyelashes. i remember when i was 5 years old i had this frou-frou lace dress that i wore to church. it was yellow with layers upon layers of white and yellow lace. i would lift the lace on the sleeves up to my face and then bat my eyes at strangers. i felt so beautiful.
my eyes; this time to see with. i'm grateful that through my contacts or glasses i can see leaves and pine needles from a distance. i can read the words on a page. i can recognize those that i love as they walk towards me. i can photograph the beauty of the world.
my muffin top. strange as it may be, when i look at my stretched belly i'm reminded of my four happy pregnancies, my four healthy babies, my ability to conceive. this year i have learned many, many lessons from wonderful women about the pains of infertility. my soul has ached for my friends and i've learned just how lucky i am to have that muffin top.
my voice, i'm grateful for the gift of song, for speech, for laughter.
my hands; with them i soothe a child's tears, paint a canvas, touch and fold paper, crochet scarves and monsters. my hands reach out and hug, caressing the neck and hair of my babies. for the ability to write real letters.
my legs and feet; to carry me wherever i want to go. to run 3.5 miles last night, stopping only because the gym closed. to wear happy socks and fishnets.
my spirit; the ability to discern and read others, to feel their spirits, and recognize their souls. for intuition and direction in my life granting warnings or caution when needed and bringing tears to my eyes for the sake of joy and happiness.
i am filled with gratitude today. i wish you very happiest of holidays, for memory filled and made days, for love wherever you are. xoxoxo
Reader Comments (15)
This is so beautiful it made me tear up. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to you Jenica!
Sending you hugs,
xox
I really liked this post. :) You are an inspiration. I hope you guys have a great rest of the week!
I LOVE THIS. I mean really really love it. I never think to be thankful for all the things I do like about me, only complain about or fixate on those that I don't. You always make me think outside the box. So I'm thankful for you, little one! Hope you had a wonderful holiday.
xo
Amy
you have to forgive me for never commenting. rss feeders are good for keeping up to date on reading, but totally keep me out of the loop on being the other half of conversation. thanks for your sweet comments on my blog, and i really enjoy keeping up on what you're doing. i'm glad we've been able to become interweb buddies :)
It was just the sleeves you were lifting up, right? You weren't flashing the congregation?
You're beautiful, especially your muffin top.
Oh Jenica, you are so beautiful, inside and out. Thank you for these wonderful, inspiring, powerful words. You are perfection and I am grateful to get to know you here. xoxo
I love this. Yes...so many wonderful things to be thankful for. This was a beautiful reflection.
beautiful, jenica. there are many people in this world who are grateful for you and your wonderful, open and loving heart! xxoo
i am grateful that you have become part of my day, that you are so brave to remind me of the 3 blessing that i have and that the muffin top goes right along with those healthy silly kids.
peace girlie.
oh but you are lovely and if only everyone embraced their muffin top with such love and grace and gratefulness! I love that so much!
Bisous, Elizabeth
I am new here! What a great blog :) ♥ Hugs!
i so love you :) xo
I guess I read this post a little late, but I'm glad I did. It was a joy to read!
I think I enjoyed the muffin-top part the best - not that it was any better than the other parts, but because it is something I have never heard before. I appreciate your lovely attitude and could not agree more.
Thank you for sharing... yet again. :)
what a lovely post.
lots to be thankful for.
xo
You are such an inspiration. I've told you that before. You do have much to be thankful for! and so do I...you are one of those blessings!